At the Lunch Hour.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 151, 23 May 1903, Page 12

At the Lunch Hour.

LOOK what he gave me, Kit'" The speaker held out hex hand, and showed a shilling. Judging from her expression and tone of voice, she placed the greatei value upon the giving or the giver. Kit snifted indifferently, and glanced acro&s the room at one of the round tables, where a well-dressed custoinei was legalmg himself with an eighteenpenny dinner. "That's the second time this week he's given you something, isn't it, Lizzie?" "Yes, why?" ' Oh, I know them ! He's either thinking of his stomach or else he's up to misohief !" "He's a gentleman'" Lizzie flashed out. ' Yes, I know he is," said Kit grimly. "You're always saying something' — " began the younger girl, pettishly, when the other stopped her with a gesture of contempt. "Look here Lizzie; you can't talk to me' I've been at this for six years, and you've been at it six months. I can read them all like books. They oan't deceive me — none of them l " Kit was over 25, and decidedly plain, so she could afford to view her surroundings in this light. Had she been a pretty girl like her companion, she might have found it convenient to give two sides to the question. "You'd take it quick enough' Lizzie retorted. "Course I would. But I always take good care to earn it. I don't take it for nothing Take all you can get, but for heaven's sake don't make a fool of yourself l " With this concluding advice, Kit hurried away to wait on a customer Some days later Lizzie appeared with flushed cheeks, and concealing something; at her neck. "You needn't hide it," Kit said, quietly , "it's a brooch, I suppose — yes , I thought so. He gave you that last night." "How did you know?" Lizzie cried, taken aback. "Oh, I know all about it' You went to the theatre witih him, and had supper after " "Who told you?" 'Those two fellows over there in the corner. They told me they saw you " "Well, what of it? You're jealous'" Kit's face flushed angrily, but only for an instant. "No, I'm not. Don't let the boss know that's all." "Anyone would think I'd done something awful to hear you talk' What is there in just going out p You're jealous l " Kit merely shrugged her shoulders. • • * ' I notice your 'Gentlemen' hasn't been in lately," Kit remarked a few weeks later. She had avoided the subject for a long tune, for Lizzie had become quite impertinent about it. But, during the last few days she had noticed the pretty face grow anxious, and 1 the dark eyes wistfully watch the doorway. "He hasn't been able to come m, Lizzie said, evasively. "Not even to see you p " Kit said, with a laugh. Then, suddenly a flash of anxious concern came into her eyes, and she caught the girl's hand m hers. "Lizzie' Surely you haven't been such a fool ?" She read her answer in the bent head and scarlet face. It was an old story, and Kit had heard it so often that she had grown accustomed to it, and thought "Fool'" was the most appropriate name that could be applied to the teller of the "The hound' Married, too, I'll bet '" "You mind your own business'" Lizzie oried, excitedly 'I'm going to sep him to-night '" • * • Tiue, after many broken appointments, he had promised to meet her at eight o'clock at the Post Office. She was there long before the time, and waited in vain Eight, nine, and ten o'clock passed, and she paced up and down the broad footway, eagerly scanning every face that passed None knew the agony of those houis Pacing wearily up and down, watching in vain for a familiar face, and straining her ears to ca/toh the first note of the chime from the tower high above her head. It was just a few minutes to eleven when she noticed a man assisting a lady into a cab. With a stifled exclamation she hurried forward, and touched his sleeve as he was stepping in. He turned, hesitated a moment., and muttered an oath under his breatlh. With a laughing apology to his companion, he moved a few paces away from the cab.

Lizzie scarcely knew w hat she said for she was tiled and excited. ' I've done with all that long ago, he said brutally, "and I don't w ant you bothering me '" Her taemblmg accusation and piteous appeal fell upon indifferent ears. "You knew quite well what you doing," he said, coolly , "so you'll havn to put up w ith it " Them,, Lightly flicking the ash from his cigair he turned and left her * * ■* All through Thy hour, L-ord, be my guide ' Kept by Thy power, No foot shall slide chimed the Post Office clock, and then the slo-w strokes of eleven She had nothing to wait for now, no one to see, so time was no object. She did not hear the midnight chime, for long before then her body was flo'aitmc around the slimy piles of the harbour w harves. And they thought she had fallen f.om one of the ferry-boats, for they brought in a verdict of "Accidental death." — S.D., in Sydney "Sunday Times."

A pleasant evening was given on Monday last by Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall, as a fan ew ell for Mr. and Mrs. Hairle, who shortly leave to reside in New Plymouth. Progressive euchre was played until 11 p.m., and after a dainty supper, musical items weie contributed bv some of the guests. The euchre prizes w ere a out-glass and silver scent "bottle, cigar ash tray, and paper knife. Some ot the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Harle, Mrs Turnbull, Mrs. and the Mis&es Glasgow, Mrs. Moorhouse, Mats Fisher, Miss McKay, Miss Clark, and Me' Sis. Haitmann, Claike, Coyle, Moorhouse, Harle, West, Muir, Lush, Halle v, and man> more The invitations, have been issued for the Highland Rifles' Ball which is to be held in the Druids' Hall, on Wednesday June 3rd The success of this ball is assured, and, as good music, a splendid supper, and excellent floor will bo piovided, the guests should thoroughly enjoy themselves. * * * The Misses Humphrey (Napier) are or a visit to Miss Edwards Wellington. * * * Miss May Carte has returned from Auckland, 'after an enjoyable holiday, having spent some time in Rotorua. Miss D Carte shortly leaves for Auckland and Rotorua, where she will be joined by her sister Rose, who has been on a visit to friends in Hokianga. * * * A pretty wedding was quietly celebrated at the Wesley Church, Tara-naki-street, on Wednesday, May 6th, when Mr. David Y. Wilson was married to Miss Lillian H. Welch, the Rev. W\ C. Oliver officiating. The bride wore a most becoming gown of royal blue cloth, with stitched vest of sort w hite silk and chiffon, and a pretty turban hat, swathed with tulle caught with a buckle, and white ostrich taps. Her shower bouquet was of choice white flowers and lycopodium. * » • "* r irgaiet Welch, as bridesmaid, -' gown of floral foulard Miss iv^ i- picture hat. Her wore a doinij -^ of dahlias, and and a large blacn. otill gave the bouquet was composts "^ acted mr n autumn leaves. Mr. A*, spent bride away, and Mr W T Davu. best man. The honeymoon was m the Wanganui district. Amongst ta. many wedding-gifts received was a marble clock, and pair of handsome Japanese vases from Messrs. MeKee and Co. to Mr. Wilson. • • • Mrs. J. D. Gray, Grant-road, has returned from a visit to Lake' Takapuna, Auckland. • ♦ * Miss Medley is visiting Mrs. Bowen, of Middleton, Chnstchurch. » * * The annual ball, given under the auspices of the Wellington Guards, will be held in the Druids' Hall, Taranakistreet, on Wednesday, 24th June. The Congregational Church, Courtenay Place, was the scene of a very pretty wedding on Wednesday, May 13th. when Miss Kate Hutchings, third daughter of Mr. Edward Hutehnngs, Wellington, was married to Mr. Peter Lewis, of Wanganui, the fifth son of Mr. Lipman H. Lewis, of Hackney Downs, London. The bride entered the church on her father's arm, and looked charming in a gown of white silk voile, trimmed with merveilleux and chiffon, and also wore a veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet. « • < Her attendants were her sister, Miss Louise Hutohmgs, and Miss B. Lewis (niece of the bridegroom), who were attired in white liberty silk, beautifully tucked and trimmed with lacje and insertion, and they wore white frieze hats. Their gifts from the bridegroom were gold neck chains and greenstone hearts. Mr. Herbert Delves (Wanganui) acted as best man, and Mr. Allan Watson agroomsman. The marriage service was conducted by the Rev. Newman Hall. After the ceremony, the bridal party and guests adjourned to the New Century Hall, where the wedding breakfast was served. The bride's travelling costume was of grey tweed, trimmed with glace silk, and a large black and white velvet hat. The honeymoon us being spent in the North. * * The engagement has been announced of Miss Ethel Evans, daughter of Mr. George Evans, Maarama Crescent, Wellington, to Mr. Andrew Lees Swan, of Dunedin. ♦ » • In Sydney, the most popular forms oi feminine amusement at present are "personal" and "hat" teas. For the former, each truest has a piece of paper pinned on her back, on which is written some name. She has to go among the other guests and ask questions, such ' s ''Who am I ? Man, woman, actor, authoress, historical character, etc. p " until she gets a clue as to her identity. When she guesses this, a mark is nut

against her name, and another one pinned oni, and so on until a bell rings, and whoever has guessed the most names gets a prize. Second and third prizes are given. • * * For a "halt" tea, each guest is given a wire frame and bundle of coloured tissue paper as they enter. At a given signal they start to trim the frames with the paper. At the end of twenty minutes the hats are judged, prizes awarded, and the guests must wear the. hats for the resib of the afternoon, which consists of tea and chatter. These teas are great fun, and the latter is provocative of much ingenuity. "Personal" teas were introduced m Wellington last season, but so far I have not heard of "hat" competitions. • • * * T7 ednesday evening a very large "Hiests were invited to St. On v> .. tl to witness the clever number of fo "'Mna Maid," by a Peter's Sehoolrow The stage performance of "A t^_ n pretty, number of school girls. i] ms, looked very picturesque ano. long festoons of chrysanthemiw greenery, and Chinese lanterns transforming it into a place of beauty. The performance went without a hitch of any description, and the entertainment included! many bright and pretty songs amd duets, quaint dances and tableaux, and becoming dresses were worn. Those acting were the Misses Simpson, Haybittie Didsbury, Watson, Brewer, and Bristowe. Miss Riley played the accompaniments. • * ■» After the performance, light refreshments were provided, and the remainder of the evening was spent m dancing. Some of the guests were Mesdamps Tolhurst, T. Young, A. Young, Butt, Ewen, Fulton, Bnstow, T. G. Macarthy, C- Tringham, J. Duthie, Hoggard, Robertson, Wyhe, the Misses Freeman, Morrah, Fell," Nathan. Butt, Ewen, Macintosh, Turton, Edwin, Rawson, Waldegrave, Wilson, Seed, Simpson, Tolhurst, Brewer, Ward, Hoggard, Fulton, Young, Blundell, and Messrs. Kirkby, James, Nelson, Robertson, Seed Laing, Walters, Pye-Smith, Bridge, Hjornng, Allen, Webb-Bowen, and many others. * • • Mrs. T. G Macarthv and Miss Fitzsimmons have returned from an enjoyable visit to Auckland. • * ■* Miss Christine Simcox (Otaki) is visiting Mrs. Moirrah. • • « Mrs. Wyhe is in town again after a pleasant few weeks in the Wairarapa district . Mr. and Mrs. Sandford Cox have returned from their honeymoon trip, and are living in Tinakon-road. * * * An article on the Delhi durbar ball, in the "Amnta Bazar Patrika," a Bengalee paper, published in English, is not too comphme'iitary to the English, amd American ladies. According to this writer, the women of Europe are like dolls utilised for amusement. Dress occupies almost the entire soul of the Western woman, and we think they prove very disagreeable to their husbands in many ways. And whenever a ball is announced, husbands or parents of unmarried girls, dread it as being too costly an affair. How costly are women in the West to their euardians 1 And this mainly because nf their mania for dress.

"lii India people do not dance except under the influence of ecstacy supposed to be derived from piety. And they have their professional dancers, too, flhom they engage to enjoy themselves. In Europe they dance to eke some enjoyment out of it. When India was independent, women here had the freedom to appear before men — they also danced together, man and woman. But maids were not allowed to dance, nor were wives with other men save their husbands. * * * ''Maids, in our opinion, should never be allow ed to dance in balls unless it be with their brothers or future husbands. Why do not the Europeans adopt the ancient Hindu custom? We think this is better than the one they follow — narnejy, that of dancing with other peopled wives."